Workers protest at Chicago's O'Hare airport over staffing cuts by United Airlines

CHICAGO, IL – Flight attendants were picketing Thursday at O’Hare in protest of staffing cuts by United Airlines. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA has accused United of “lowering its standards” while making “record profits.” The union planned 15 other protests around the world.

“Instead of leading U.S. carriers and distinguishing United Airlines with superior safety and enhanced customer service, the airline is lowering its standards to follow American and Delta,” said Ken Diaz, president of AFA’s United Master Executive Council, in a media release. “This is not the way to say we love our passengers.”

Pilots and other employees joined the flight attendants for the protest at O’Hare at 10 a.m. outside the airport’s upper level departures section between terminals 1 and 2.

“When United is making record profits, it should not be cutting back on the people who are on the front lines of safeguarding and serving passengers,” Diaz said in the media release. “A profitable major airline should not be rushing to reduce customer service.”

News outlets reached out to United for comment but did not hear back by deadline.

About two thousand flight attendants are based in Chicago.

Other protests were held in London, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Honolulu, Guam and Tokyo, among other major hubs.